Feline Seizures During Sleep

A seizure is the result of an electrical misfiring in the brain, leading to physical, sensory or behavioral symptoms. Cats can have seizures, including seizures during sleep. However, in comparison to dogs, it is quite rare for cats to experience seizures. According to University of Floria veterinary neurologist R.D. Clemmons, fewer than 1 percent of the feline population has a seizure disorder.

  1. Seizures and Epilepsy

    • A diagnosis of feline epilepsy will usually be made if your cat has a recurring pattern of seizures without any known cause. Seizures can be caused by tumors, infections or ingestion of toxic chemicals. If there is an underlying cause of seizures, the seizures themselves are the symptoms of that disease or disorder. If no other explanation can be found for your cat's seizures, your veterinarian will diagnose one of the many types of epilepsy.

    Sleep Seizure Symptoms

    • There are many different types of seizures. In cats, as in humans, these are broadly categorized as "partial seizures," which involve part of the brain, and "generalized seizures," which involve the whole brain. Partial seizures can occur without a loss of consciousness, and symptoms may include altered breathing patterns, paw-paddling, jerking or rigid limb movements, excess salivation, twitching muscles or twisting of the body. A generalized seizure involves a loss of consciousness and often whole-body convulsions. It is unusual for a cat to experience a generalized seizure, according to Bruce Lowekap of Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science.

    Diagnosis

    • An epilepsy diagnosis made by your veterinarian will be based on your descriptions and observations of sleep seizures in your cat. You can help build up an overall picture of your cat's seizure symptoms by keeping a diary. Note the time and duration of any seizures, the specific symptoms, and which parts of the body were involved. It can be difficult to tell the difference between normal feline sleep behavior -- for example, physical movements associated with dreams of hunting -- and sleep seizures. If your cat is normally house-trained, evidence of urinary or bowel incontinence, or excess saliva, may indicate that a seizure occurred in the night.

    Care and Treatment

    • If you think your cat is having a seizure, make sure he is in a safe place away from hazards such as stairs, open fires or water. Get other pets and children away from the cat, and turn off sources of noise or bright light. If your cat's seizure lasts longer than is usual for it -- as a benchmark, anything longer than five minutes is considered a prolonged seizure -- seek immediate veterinary attention. Likewise, seek help if your cat has multiple seizures without regaining consciousness in between. When your cat comes around after its seizure, talk soothingly to it and give it some soft blankets or pillows to sleep with for the next few hours. Having a seizure can be exhausting, and your cat will be groggy for a while afterward.

    Medication

    • If your cat has regular seizures and is diagnosed with epilepsy, your veterinarian can prescribe anticonvulsant medications to reduce seizure activity. Phenobarbital is commonly prescribed to treat feline seizures, according to Clemmons. The usual dosage is between 2 and 4 mg. of phenobarbital per kg. of your cat's body weight, and this dose is delivered twice daily. Potassium bromide is also sometimes used to treat feline epilepsy. Diazepam may be used to stop a seizure, but is not typically prescribed as an ongoing preventative medication for cats.